Hazing at Texas Universities: A Comprehensive Guide for Mabank Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, This Guide Was Written for You

Imagine for a moment: your son or daughter, excited for the college experience, joins a fraternity, sorority, Corps of Cadets unit, or athletic team at a major Texas university. The promise of friendship and tradition turns dark. They’re being forced to drink until they vomit, subjected to brutal workouts in the cold, humiliated in group chats, and told that if they speak up, they’ll be expelled from the group—or worse. They’re scared, injured, and feel utterly alone.

This is not a hypothetical fear. Right now, in Texas, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was brutally hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter. The allegations include extreme physical abuse, forced consumption of food until vomiting, being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and suffering that led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization. The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing,” and the chapter was shut down.

If you are a parent, grandparent, or family member in Mabank, Texas, in Kaufman County, your child may be attending a local campus or one of Texas’s major universities. The culture that allowed the abuse of Leonel Bermudez exists beyond Houston. It exists at Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, and on campuses across our state. This guide was written to give you, as a Mabank family, the knowledge and resources you need to understand hazing, the law, and how to protect your child.

This is a comprehensive guide to hazing and the law in Texas, written for families in Mabank and across Kaufman County who need to understand:

• What modern hazing really looks like in 2025.
• How Texas and federal law treat hazing, and who can be held liable.
• What we can learn from major national cases and how they apply to Texas families.
• The documented history and incidents at major Texas universities where Mabank students often enroll.
• What legal options victims and families in Mabank and throughout Texas may have.

This article provides general information, not specific legal advice. Every case is unique. We serve families throughout Texas, including here in Kaufman County, and we are ready to provide a confidential evaluation of your specific situation.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.

In the first 48 hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek professional medical care to document injuries and prevent long-term harm.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), DMs, and social media posts related to the incident.
   • Photograph any injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical items (torn clothing, paddles, receipts for alcohol).
3. Document Everything: Write down names, dates, times, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears quickly. Universities move fast to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is no longer just about silly pranks or “harmless” traditions. It is a calculated pattern of abuse designed to assert power and control. For Mabank families, understanding its modern forms is critical, as students may be reluctant to label what’s happening to them.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior:

• Endangers physical or mental health.
• Humiliates, degrades, or exploits.

A key point Texas law recognizes: “I agreed to it” is not a defense. The power imbalance, peer pressure, and fear of exclusion render true consent meaningless in these situations.

Main Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly form.

• Forced chugging, “lineups,” drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking.
• Being pressured to consume unknown mixed drinks or substances.

2. Physical Hazing:

• Paddling, beatings, or “smokings” (extreme, punitive calisthenics).
• Sleep deprivation, food/water restriction.
• Exposure to extreme cold/heat (e.g., in underwear), lying in vomit.

3. Psychological & Humiliating Hazing:

• Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members.
• Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, wearing degrading costumes.
• Acts with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones.

4. Digital Hazing (Increasingly Common):

• 24/7 monitoring and mandatory instant replies in group chats (GroupMe, Discord, Slack).
• Forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges” on TikTok or Instagram.
• Geo-tracking via apps like Find My Friends.
• Coercion to create or share compromising images.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often in the news, hazing is a systemic issue across campus groups:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils).
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups (especially at Texas A&M).
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Spirit and Tradition Organizations (like Texas Cowboys or AggiE Ring Crew).
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs.

The common threads are social status, tradition, and a code of secrecy that keeps these practices alive, even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Hazing Laws

For a Mabank family navigating a crisis, understanding the legal landscape is empowering. Texas has strong hazing laws, and federal statutes provide additional avenues for accountability.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group, that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student.

Key Provisions for Mabank Families:

• Criminal Penalties (§37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or knowingly allowed the hazing.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if the victim “agreed,” it is still a crime. This directly counters the most common excuse.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Students who report hazing or call 911 in an emergency are protected from civil or criminal liability, even if they were drinking underage. This is critical for encouraging help-seeking.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, assault, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. Aim is monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, and negligent supervision.

These paths can run simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil lawsuit. In fact, the civil discovery process often uncovers evidence criminal investigations miss.

Federal Law Overlay

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, or is gender-based, it triggers federal Title IX obligations for the university to investigate and address a hostile environment.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults or alcohol offenses.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): A new federal law requiring colleges to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs (phasing in through 2026).

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Multiple parties can share responsibility, which is crucial for ensuring full compensation and accountability:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, carried out, or covered up the hazing.
2. Local Chapter: The fraternity/sorority chapter as an entity, and its officers (president, pledge educator, risk manager).
3. National Fraternity/Sorority: The headquarters that set policies, collect dues, and supervise chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents is key.
4. University: The school may be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol, or security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Repeated in Texas

The tragic cases below are not just news stories; they are blueprints for how hazing happens and how liability is established. They show the patterns that Texas chapters, unfortunately, often repeat.

The Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Died from traumatic brain injury after a bid-acceptance night of extreme drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. Resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and dozens of criminal charges.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Died from alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol; died. Family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from nationals, ~$3M from the university).
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Died after a “Big Brother” night. His case is a direct parallel to the allegations in our active UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit.

Physical & Ritualized Violence

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Died from brain injuries during a blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania.

Athletic Program Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread sexualized and racist hazing allegations led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements.

What This Means for Mabank Families: These cases show common, predictable threads: forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and cover-ups. The same national organizations involved in these tragedies have chapters at Texas schools. When a Texas chapter repeats these scripts, it demonstrates foreseeability—a key element in proving negligence against national headquarters and universities.

Texas Focus: Universities Where Mabank Families Send Their Kids

Mabank students often attend regional institutions like the University of Texas at Tyler, Texas A&M University-Commerce, and the University of North Texas, as well as major hubs like Texas A&M, UT Austin, and the University of Houston. Hazing is a risk across this spectrum.

University of Houston (UH)

For Mabank Families: UH is a major destination within driving distance. The ongoing Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is a stark example of what can happen.

• Documented Incident (Our Active Case): As reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez’s hazing included a degrading “pledge fanny pack,” forced overconsumption of food, hours of extreme exercise, and being sprayed with a hose. He developed life-threatening rhabdomyolysis. The chapter was swiftly shut down.
• Previous Pattern: UH has suspended other chapters, like Pi Kappa Alpha in 2016 after a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen.
• How a UH Case Proceeds: Investigations may involve UHPD and Houston Police. Civil suits are filed in Harris County courts. Potential defendants include individual members, the chapter, Pi Kappa Phi nationals, and the UH System.

Texas A&M University

For Mabank Families: Texas A&M’s culture, including its renowned Corps of Cadets, carries specific hazing risks.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged being tied between beds in a degrading, simulated sexual position as part of hazing. The case sought over $1 million.
• How a Texas A&M Case Proceeds: Can involve University Police and Bryan/College Station PD. The unique structure of the Corps and its traditions require legal expertise familiar with both university and military-style systems.

University of Texas at Austin

For Mabank Families: UT’s size and prominent Greek life require vigilance.

• Public Transparency: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations Log, a resource families should check.
• Example from the Log: Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) sanctioned for forcing new members to drink milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Recent SAE Incident (2024): An Australian exchange student sued an SAE chapter alleging assault that caused a broken nose, dislocated leg, and other injuries.
• How a UT Case Proceeds: Involves UTPD and Austin PD. The public violation log provides powerful evidence of a chapter’s prior known misconduct.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

• SMU: A private university with affluent Greek life. Past incidents include the Kappa Alpha Order chapter suspension in 2017 for paddling and forced drinking.
• Baylor: Known for its religious affiliation and past athletic scandals. The baseball team faced a 2020 hazing investigation resulting in multiple player suspensions.

Action for Parents: Regardless of the school, the playbook is similar. Document everything, report through official channels, and consult an attorney to navigate the specific university’s internal policies and potential sovereign immunity issues (for public schools).

Fraternities & Sororities: Connecting National Histories to Texas Chapters

The fraternities and sororities on Texas campuses are chapters of national organizations with documented, repeated hazing histories. This isn’t about branding all groups; it’s about recognizing patterns that courts see as foreseeable risk.

Why National Histories Matter in Court

When a chapter at UH or Texas A&M repeats a hazing script that caused death at another school, it proves the national headquarters:

• Knew the specific risks of certain traditions.
• Failed to effectively enforce its own anti-hazing policies.
• Can be held liable for negligent supervision.

Sample of National Organizations with Documented Hazing Histories

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Data-Driven View

Our firm maintains a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public records, including IRS filings for over 125 Texas-registered Greek organizations. This means when a Mabank family comes to us, we don’t start from zero. We already have data on the entities behind the letters.

Example Public Records of Texas Greek Organizations (Illustrative):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 46-2267515), Frisco, TX 75035 – This is the housing corp for the UH chapter in our lawsuit.
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (EIN 74-6064445), Nederland, TX 77627 – EPSILON KAPPA CHAPTER (Lamar University).
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 74-1380362), Fort Worth, TX 76147.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (EIN 36-4091267), Waco, TX 76710 – XI CHI Chapter.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (EIN 52-1278573), Dallas, TX 75241 – LAMBDA LAMBDA Chapter.

This directory illustrates the network of house corporations, alumni chapters, and foundations that exist behind campus chapters. Identifying all potentially liable entities is a critical step in building a strong case.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

For a Mabank family, the path forward after discovering hazing can feel overwhelming. A strategic, evidence-based approach is vital.

Critical Evidence in a Modern Hazing Case

1. Digital Communications: The #1 source of evidence. This includes GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and Instagram/Snapchat DMs. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members during events, often shared in group chats. Security footage from houses or neighboring properties.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails between officers.
4. University Records: Prior conduct reports, probation letters, Clery Act reports—obtained through discovery or public records requests.
5. Medical Records: ER reports, hospitalizations, lab results (e.g., high creatine kinase for rhabdo), psychological evaluations for PTSD, anxiety, depression.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, RAs.

We cannot overstate this: Preserve evidence immediately using your phone. Screenshot everything.

Types of Damages Families Can Recover

Civil lawsuits seek to make the victim “whole” and hold wrongdoers accountable through compensation for:

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity (if disabled), therapy costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of companionship, grief suffered by the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious or reckless conduct, to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Settlements in severe injury or death cases routinely reach into the millions of dollars, as seen in the national cases discussed.

The Role of Insurance and Multiple Defendants

National fraternities and universities carry insurance. A major part of the legal battle is often forcing insurance companies to provide coverage, as they frequently try to deny claims by arguing hazing is an “intentional act” not covered by policy. This is where our insider knowledge is key. Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows their tactics, how they value claims, and how to fight coverage denials.

A successful strategy identifies all possible defendants—individuals, chapters, nationals, universities, landlords—to maximize leverage and ensure there are adequate funds to cover the damages.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Mabank Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child is Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping).
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation.
• Sudden personality changes: anxiety, withdrawal, irritability.
• Being overly secretive about group activities.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Declining academic performance.

What to Do if You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’ve noticed you’re really tired/stressed. Is everything okay with your group?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If they are injured or intoxicated, seek medical care immediately.
3. Document: Write down what they tell you. Have them screenshot messages if they are willing.
4. Report: You can report to the university’s Dean of Students office anonymously. However, understand that internal investigations may conflict with legal strategy.
5. Consult a Lawyer Before: Speaking to university administrators in depth, signing any documents, or confronting the group. Critical mistakes can ruin your case.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

If you answer YES to any of these, you are likely being hazed:

• Are you being forced or pressured to do something dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would you do this if there were no social consequences for saying no?
• Are older members making you do things they don’t have to do?
• Are you told to keep secrets from university officials, your family, or the public?

Your Rights in Texas:

• You have the right to quit any group at any time.
• You have legal protections as a hazing victim.
• Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reporting of hazing, especially when calling 911 for a medical emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue the university in Texas?”
Yes. While public universities have some sovereign immunity protections, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer immunity barriers. The specific facts of your case determine the viability.

“My child ‘agreed’ to it. Do we have a case?”
Absolutely. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of injury. However, complexities like the “discovery rule” or ongoing cover-ups can affect this. Do not wait. Time is critical.

“Will this be public? I don’t want my child’s name in the news.”
Most civil hazing cases are settled confidentially before trial. We can negotiate for sealed court records and private settlement terms to protect your family’s privacy.

About The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: Why We Fight for Hazing Victims

When your family in Mabank faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand the intricate power dynamics of universities and national Greek organizations, and who have a proven record of taking on massive institutions—and winning.

We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason. We provide immediate, aggressive, and professional help when you need it most.

Our Unique Qualifications for Texas Hazing Cases

1. Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: Right now, we are lead counsel in the $10 million Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are on the front lines, fighting the same battles your family may face. This isn’t theoretical expertise; it’s active, daily practice.

2. Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies try to deny, delay, and minimize hazing claims. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

3. Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets and legal armies of national fraternities or university systems. We’ve faced them before.

4. Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Results: We have a proven track record of securing significant settlements and verdicts for clients with life-altering injuries. We know how to work with economists and life-care planners to value the true, lifelong cost of an injury.

5. Criminal + Civil Dual Capability: Ralph’s membership in the elite Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing cases. We can advise families and witnesses on navigating both criminal and civil exposure.

6. Data-Driven Investigation: We don’t start from scratch. We employ our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from thousands of public records on Greek organizations across Texas—to quickly identify all potentially liable entities, from house corporations to national headquarters.

7. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the diverse families of Texas.

Our Call to Action for Mabank and Kaufman County Families

If hazing has impacted your family—whether your child attends a school in Tyler, Commerce, Denton, College Station, Austin, Houston, or beyond—you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved will have lawyers protecting their interests from day one. You deserve the same dedicated advocacy.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will:

• Listen to your story with compassion and without judgment.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options clearly and honestly.
• Discuss the realistic process, timeline, and what you can expect.
• Answer all your questions about costs—we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Take the first step toward accountability and healing today.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Your Mabank family has the right to answers, to justice, and to ensuring no other student suffers as your child has.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston report: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using your phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Firm Website:

• Main site: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. The outcome of any legal matter depends on the specific facts and applicable law. Consult a qualified attorney for advice on your specific situation.